South Dakota Sees Record Number of Corporate Filings

SIOUX FALLS - South Dakota saw a record number of new corporate filings in December. Secretary of State Jason Gant says that suggests the state's economy is improving.

Corporate filings in December totaled 827, a 23 percent increase over the year and the highest number on record. Gant tells the Argus Leader newspaper that he thinks the numbers show that economic development is thriving in the state.

University of South Dakota Beacom School of Business Dean Mike Keller says he also thinks the record number of filings indicates optimism about the future.

For all of last year, there were 7,108 new entities created in a state that has more than 100,000 corporations on file. Gant did not have data on how many businesses in South Dakota closed last year.